Lubricating system for washing machines



Feb. 9, 1932. L. B. GREEN 1,844,504

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oa y; 7 M W Feb. 9, 1932. B GREEN 1,844,504

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9-,,1932

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEE 3. 6, OF LAKEWQGD, OHIO, ASSIGNOB 10 on BOBDEH' comm, 013' W, V

. OHIO, A. OOBPOBA'QIOH 0F OHIO Application filed iamnry a, 1229. mm 30. 331377.

ter of the tub there is a casting 11 which This invention relates to improvements in iubricatin means for washing machines, particular y washing machines of the submer ed oscillator type. However, hhe invention in some of its aspects is susceptihleof Wider use.

One of the objects of the inventioii is the provisioii of means for carrying lubricant eiong a horizontally arranged connecting rod to the mechanism at one end thereof.

Another object is the provision of on oil cavity in the UPPER surface oi? a. horizontal osciiieting gear sector, and the iubricetion therefrom of mechanism essocieie with seid eater.

Another oiijeeiis the peovision oi means for taking oil from s sump and depositing it a. chemiei in the upper surface of e hori zontei connecting rod during the recipsocetion of fihe ietiaez ssid means being associated with the drivmgmeens of the connecting rod.

Anoisher object is the provision of means for uiiiizing e ion 'iiucimeiiy movin control shaft for the i'ccmetioo of 511 dean c oressame to force lubricating oil to points requisingluhi'iceeion.

shew ohjecis onfi feetures of novelty wiii appear as 1 proceed with the description of thei emboriimem; 0:? the invention which, for the purposes oi the present eppiicstion, 1 have iiiust-raied in the accompanying zirswings in which:

Fig. 1 is e veriicsi sectional View iiiusiiretin v as driving mechanism for s washing meciime' and wringei', embodying my invention; I

Fig. 2 is e oiezi View of the operating mechenism with the upper section of the gees cosin removed; 7

E35. 3 is e cieieii sectio View taken substanfsieiiy on ihe line 3-3 Fig. 1'; and

Fig. e is e fmentery detail view on e larger sceie, of s ortion of she power shaft,

this View showing on oil thrower which may be employed in connection with the invention.

vso

' in the tirewingslha vejiiiosireied the iii- .venizion as sppiied to a washing meehine of i the submer geii oscillatort a fragment of the tub beingshown at At the com is formed hollow in order toreceive the shaft 12, by means of which the oscilietor (not shown) is driveno ()ne end of the gear casing, which is split into up r emi iQWGI sections 18 and 14, .is attache to the ces'izin 11 by studs 15. The lower end of the she 12 is roteiaehiy supgorted in the casing section 14: by e sciier upwardly from o more or see ces tiei point oi 1 she seem-e18, end constitutes the connection hetween she sector sec; the conneetieg roe .22. In the sector 18 there are two thrilled pesseges 23 smiQ ieefiing from ihe oiieeviiay 20 domwesfiiy et en engie so the neezing surfaces of the pins 19 emi 21, reseeciiveiy. in theo posiie siiie Weiis of the 'cesieg section 14, low the ievei of the connecting rod 22, I mount s- ;oower sheit 25 that is sdapte to be ettachefi dicecizi oi' ieireeiiy to a driving motor (not shown Withi'e. the casing this sheik, calories as worm 26 which meshes with sworn: wheel 2?. The letter hes e ciedingbhuh 28 which is rotsfiisbiy s11?- Y ported in e V ei29 carriesi by e suiteh formefi portion of e casing se tion Iii. The

flu-use prociecefi by the weight of the worm Wheei sod S'HlESXPQESi pests is taken upon e wesher 3G.

The worm wheel 27 is psoviec'i with u warciiy extending groiection' in the form oi a crescent 31, which is preferably cesi integrally with the worm Wheel. The cres= sent is smooth 1: on both of its side sefieces.

To is surrounds by an internal gear iormezi upon an eccentric 32 the oenter of e gee-isequently, as it rotates, the eccentric is turned upon the crescent 31 thereby revolving about thecenterofthecrescenttovarytheeccentricity of the eccentric. An eccentric strap 35 surrounds the eccentric 32, being formed referably integral with the connecting ro 22. The pinion 33 normally rotates with the worm 27. It is capable of limited rotation with respect to t worm wheel, however, and this relative rotation is brought about by a sliding control shaft 36 provided with spiral grooves 37 that cooperate with threads 38 on the internal surface of the hollow inion 33. The control shaft 36 also has rectllinear grooves 39 which slidably receive correspondmg spllines in the hub of the worm wheel 27 ence, as the shaft 36 moves up and down in the worm wheel 27, its spiral thread connection with the inion 33 produces rotation of the latter with respect to the worm wheel. 4

' Below the worm and worm wheel 26 and 27,

the casing section 14 is depressed to form an oil sump 40. From this sump one or more ducts 41 conduct oil to ports 42 extending through the bushing 29. The inner surface of the bushing is preferably provided with one or more oil grooves 43 communicating with the ports 42. Below the casing section 14 thereis an extension casing 44 into which the bushing 29 and the hub 28 of the worm wheel rotrudes. This extension casing is prefera ly secured to one of the locks 45 of the machine by means of a hook bolt 46 or the like. One side of the casing 44 ,is provided with. a removable plate 47 carrying a boss 48 inwhich is formed a bearing for a shaft 49 provided with a packing 50. On the inner end of the shaft 49 1s a pinion 51 which a flat rear face engaging a flattened inwardly extending portion 53 of the casing 44. B the latter means a slide bearing for the rac isv rovided opposite the pinion 51, and the rec is prevented from turning. is' made from tubular material, and within its bore rotatably receives a rod 54, which is threaded at its u Iplerend into the bottomcontrol shaft 36. e lower end of rod 54 has pinned thereto a collar 55. The rack is, therefore, carried by the shaft 36, but does not rotate with that shaft. The lower end of the casing 44 may be closed by a welch plug 56 or other suitable means.

On the u per side of the casing section 14 I mount-a ollow wringer 0st 57 having a flanged-base 58 secured to t e casing section 13 by screws 59 or the like. Inside the post 57 there is a tubular shaft 60 which is mount- 59 ed for rotation, its lower bearing 61 only being here illustrated, and being formed preferably integral with the upper casing section 13, alidfigarrying ackin 62. The latter is held-i 'l8.ce pref rably y a pressed-in an- 65 nular plug 63. The bore of the tubular shaft meshes with a rack 52 that is provided with The rack 60 is of suflicient diameter to ermit the shaft 36 to slide freely therein. t its lower end the shaft 60 has -welded,'or otherwise secured thereto, a plate or collar 64, in which is mounted a depending pin 65 that takes into a bore 66 in the crescent-shaped projection 31 of the worm wheel. It is by this means that the shaft 60 is driven. At a point above the furthest upward travel of the shaft36, the shaft 60 is closed, as indicated at 57, and at its upper end this shaft may have operative connection with a wringer mechanism (not shown). The plate 64 overlies portions of the eccentric 32 and of the eccentric strap 35, and hence holds them in proper position. This plate, together with the end of the shaft 60, also engages the pinion 33 and prevents its upward movement. Oil orts 68 are drilled through the hollow s aft 60, connecting the interior thereof with the surface of bearing 61 for the lubrication of the latter.

On the shaft 25, to one side of the worm 26, I secure an oil thrower 69. As here illustrated, it comprises a sleeve 70 having at one end a radial flange which, at intervals, has cut out and bent up portions forming oil throwing blades 71.

When it is desired to operate the machine, the shaft 25 is caused to rotate, as by means of a suitable electric motor. The worm wheel 26 is thus rotated at a considerably decreased rate of speed. The eccentric 32, which is locked in position upon the worm wheel by means of the intermeshing teeth on the cocentric and on pinion 33, then revolves and reciprocates the connecting rod 22, which oscillates sector 18 and thereby the agitator shaft 12. At the same time, rotation is imparted to the wringer shaft 60 through the intermediacy of the pin 65 and the plate 64. r

.This may be done while the machine is in operation. The pinion 34 is thereby rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the top, and the eccentric 32 is made to travel around the crescent 31 by virtue of the intermeshing teeth on the pinion and on the eccentric.

In Fig. 2 I have marked the axis of pinion 36 and of the worm wheel 27 with the letter A;and the centers of the crescent 31 and eccentric 28 with the letters B and C, respectively. The oint A remains stationary at'all t1mes. e point B revolves about the point A during the operation of the machine, the radius of rotation remaining constant at all times. The point C also revolves about the point A during the operaity of the cccen ric becomes zero, and the connecting rod receives no motion whatever. its the crescent 31 is fixed upon the worm Wheel W, the pin o5 revolves constantly in a given circle regardless of the adjustment of the eccentric, and, consequently, the shaft tit? turns at a constant s cod at all times when the motor of the machine is running.

The casing extension 44 and the lower part the casing motion 14, including the sump t0, are tilled with oil. Oil is thrown up weirdly by the rapidly rotating oil thrower till, forming a mist which thoroughly lubri rates all of the exposed working parts in that vicinity, Part of the oil thus thrown up- Word dro 5 into the upper channel-shaped surface o the connecting rod 22, and flows to the outer end thereof and then through a hole 2'2 in the connecting rod into the challow cavity 20 in the upper surface of the actor id. The ducts 23 and 24 conduct oil :rorn this cavity into the bearings around e stud l9 and the pivot 21. 'lhe overflow nd the hearing it at the lower end of shaft it, Excess oil drains back along the bottom the casing section it into the sump 40, and hence there is a, continuous circulation of to and from the oscillator mechanism at the outer end of the connecting rod.

Ell? is thoroughly lubricated by oil conducted to it through the passages 41, ports grooves 43. Any leakage from this in the casino; cntension t4, and oil is forced upwardly along the control shaft to into the hollow shaft 5'0 This action will be delayed somewhat owing to the fact that the flow of the oil hettvecn the control shaft and the Worm Wheel 27 and between the shaft and the pinion 33 is considerably restricted. This upward flow of oil will more or less till the cavity in shaft dd, and because of the restricted passages along the control shaft the return of the oil from the cavity in shaft 60 to the casing extension 44 by gravity will be very slow. in the meantime the operator is lihely to again raise the shaft 36, and as the flow of oil out of the cavity in shaft 60 restricted, oil pressure will he built up in the shaft 60' h y the ascent of the shaft 36, and this pressure will be effective to :torce oil m the sector l8 lubricates the pinion 17 The hearing tor the huh 28 of the Worm or finds its Way into the oil-tight casthrough the openings as in the bearing o1.

Upward flow out of that hearing is prevented by the packing 62.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination a vertical drive shaft, a horizontal connectmg rod, means for con vertingthe rotation of said shaft into re-- ciprocating motion of said rod, driven mech anism operatively connected with the opposite end of said rod, said rod having a longitudinal channel in its upper surface, and means associated with the driving means for said connecting rod for depositing oil. in said channel, whereby it is conducted to said driven mechanism.

2. In combination, a vertical shaft, gearing connections for driving said shaft, 9. horizontal connecting rod arranged above said gearing connections, means for converting rotation of said shaft into reciprocating motion of said rod. an oil sump adjacent said shaft beneath said geariu driven mechanism operatively connecte shaft beneath said gearing, driven mechanism o eratively connected with the opposite en of said rod, said rod having a longitudinal channel in its upper surface, said caring comprising means for throwing oil rom said sump into said channel, whereby oil is conducted to said driven mechanism,

and means for returning surplus oil from saiddriven mechanism to said sum t. lo combinatlon, a vertical sha t, a worm Wheel fined to said shaft, a power shaft carrying a Worm meshing with said Worm Wheel, a horizontal. connectmg rod havin a channel in its upper surface, means a ore said worm' wheel for converting the rotation of sa d vertical shaft into reci rocations of said rod, a sump beneath sai driven mechanism opcratively connected Withthe opposite end of said connecting rod, said ower shaft comprising means for with the oppo site end of said rod, said rod having a lontlti hilt:

power shaft, a

throwing oil from said sump into said chart nel.

5. In combination, a vertical shaft, a Worm wheel fixed to said shaft, a power shaft car rying a worm meshing with said worm wheel, a horizontal connecting rod having a channel in its upper surface, means above said. worm Wheel for converting the rotation of said vertical shaft into reciprocations of said rod, a sump beneath said power shaft,adriven mechanism operatively connected with the 3 Hit;

opposite end of said connecting rod, said power shaft comprising means for throwin oil fronrsaid sump into said channel an onto said motion converting means.

5 6. In combination, a vertical shaft, gearing connections for driving said shaft, a horizontal connecting rod arranged above said gearing connections, means for converting r0- tation of said shaft into reciprocatingmotion of said rod, an oil sum ad acent sald shaft beneath said gearing, riven mechanism operatively connected with the opposite end of said rod, said rod having a longitudinal channel in its upper surface, and a rotar oil thrower associated with said gearing an extending downwardly into said sump for throwing oil from said sump into said channel.

7. In combination, a vertical shaft, a worm wheel fixed to said shaft, a power shaft car-- rying a worm meshing with said worm wheel, a horizontal connecting rod having a channel in its u per surface, means above said worm wheel fbr converting the rotation of said vertical shaft into reciprocations of said rod, a sump beneath said power shaft, a driven mechanism operatively connected with the opposite end of said connecting rod, and an oil thrower attached to said power shaft adjacent said worm for throwing oil from said sump into said channel.

8. In combination, a vertical shaft, a worm wheel fixed to said shaft, a power shaft carrying a worm meshing with said worm Wheel, a horizontal connecting rod extending above said power shaft having a channel in its upper surface, means for converting the rotation of said vertical shaft into reciprocations of said. rod, a sump beneath said 49 power shaft, a driven mechanism operativey connected wtih the opposite end of said connecting rod, said power shaft comprising means for throwing oil from said sump into said channel,

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

LEE B. GREEN. 

